Thousand Palms-Day 4 part 2-Palm Desert, January 4, 2017

We crossed San Andres Fault going to Joshua Tree National Park but Wednesday we saw more evidence of platonic movement as we visited Thousand Palms

First it was real Desert 🌵 and then

A literal oasis in the desert, Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve.

I liked teaching Earth Science in 7th grade

And exciting to see nature at work

Earlier we went from Desert to snow and now I felt as if I was in Jurassic Park

 It was very neat and when we got "home" and I put my feet up and then went for a swim and in hot tub 

I knew I would miss this view when I returned home

and those neat sunsets!!

We had a nice dinner at Vicki and Gavin's unit and enjoyed baby Lola and a starry walk "home"

Wednesday, January 4, 2017-part one

Another fun day...

This time I did catch sunrise just before seven

 It was beautiful then we had breakfast and set off for the Palm Springs Aerial tramway

And there were no line ups and it was an amazing ride

Taking us back to a winter environment due to elevation which I think was around 9000 feet 

People were actually snowshoeing and sliding in San Jacinto State Park.

 Going down 

Here is the gondola which actually does rotate so you don't have to move to get different views-more Swiss engineering, reminding of my trip up Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio.

Lunch stop was in Palm Springs at Ace hotel.  Here's Sandy looking pleased to be here!

In a mid century style King's Highway diner

Here is the menu just in case you decide to drop in

 It was a full day with more to come so stay tuned for part 2...

Tuesday in Palm Springs, January 3, 2017, a trip to Joshua Tree National Park

Yesterday we got out bright and early

To go to Joshua Tree National Park

 About an hour plus away

It was really awesome 

 Huge rocks so we would drive stop walk

We were quite hungry when we left but found a Mexican restaurant along the way

We went back to ritzy Palm Desert shopping area but made no purchases

Beautiful street El Paseo

Back to resort and then we walked over to nearby shopping mall and had dinner in restaurant bar where it was happy hour so our meal was half price, which was good as it was quite an expensive steak house.  It was a lovely evening although I was glad to have a warm jacket.  But no snow!

And then I walked over to see old friends, Vicki and Gavin, and their daughter Jane and granddaughter baby Lola, who had arrived, having driven from Los Vegas.  We hadn't lived in the same neighbourhood since Montreal long ago so very fun.  

Monday, January 2, 2017 in Palm Desert, California

Rumour had it that it was snowy and icy in Vancouver but not here in Palm Desert

 The view from our deck this  morning

I went for a walk then an update with member services where I scored some dining discount vouchers

this is was  in the town of Palm Springs

And then we attempted to go up the mountains above Palm Springs on the aerial tramway but we got there and were lined up for awhile and then told it was a three hour wait so we went into the town of Palm Springs and eventually had lunch using a 25 dollar discount so it was a cheap lunch...the Palm Springs film festival has just begun and lots of stars in town but we didn't spot any-Palm Desert is  about half an hour away.  

Next stop was The Living Desert which isn't far from where we were staying-I had enjoyed going there 30 years ago when it was mainly an interpretive centre about North American deserts but it has now really expanded.  Above gives you an idea of the topography.  

There is an African section and here is a Meerkat.

And a zebra…

A cheetah (he was a bit shy).

and a particular favourite of mine- the black footed cat who is Africa's smallest wild cat.  

Now we are back to the desert, American variety, with a type of heron

And this rather tubby badger!

 You can see a short video I took of a jaguar above.   I decided I could capture him more easily that way.  We saw lots more animals but  there is a limit on how much I can bore you!!!

 I think this is a desert sunflower-I have lots more pictures and since I did something like 11000 steps  there was lots to see…

Back at our place, the sun was setting around 5 and temperature dropping and I did manage to get in the hot tub.  The pool seemed a bit cool for me but kids were enjoying it…There are several pools but the near one to us is a family pool and school isn't back yet in some places.  In Palm Springs area it was the last day of holidays here like in BC.

It was a rather nice sunset!

Vancouver to Palm Springs on New Year's Day, 2017

I have had difficulties losing pictures on this blog so had temporarily given up posting, but I think I have found a solution so I am catching up on a few of my trips this year!  In January I had a neat trip to Palm Desert.  It had been about thirty years since I had been in this area so it was fun to rediscover this area.  We had an unusually snowy winter in Vancouver so it was great to escape to California for a few days.  I hope you enjoy reading a bit about this trip!

 

Saturday was a normal day but since community centre was closed, I went to yoga and then met my normal fitness group for coffee and later went to see an excellent movie that I recommend to all, Lion!!! It was really snowing when I got out and my New Year's Eve was spent snow watching etc.

My biggest fear was whether I would have to wear boots as I had to walk a few blocks to the Canada Line station when I left home at 5:45 am  but was okay with my old running shoes.  I met Sandy at the airport with a bit of a missed connection after customs (I have a Nexus pass,,and she doesn't but she ended up on plane before me-long story).  Fortunately, the plane wasn't full and we were able to have a window and aisle seat all to ourselves with no one in the middle.

We arrived around 11:30 am and got our rental car and made it to the resort which is maybe 30 minutes from the airport in Palm Desert-we were early to check in so went off in pursuit of lunch to El Paseo, the main street in  Palm Desert

After exploring, finding a grocery store etc we got back to resort and checked in and this is the view from our balcony which also has a fireplace.  It felt warm in the sun about 17 degrees but rapidly seemed to cool off though it said it was 13 degrees

Our unit is lovely though not as evident in this picture with interesting touches like an outdoor shower but I passed on that...

The picture above is at the adjacent golf course

 

Bougainvillea

Sun setting very early probably 5

Nice Palm trees-we had a quiet evening-we were both tired and Sandy has a cold.  Resort is beautiful and the pools are heated but I wasn't tempted yet...so much to do in the vicinity I can see this short visit will not be enough but I definitely can see returning!!!!